UW grads get an exclusive view of the red planet

The last time Earth came this near to Mars, Julius Caesar was a schoolboy. The two planets won’t come this close again until the year 2287. Southern locations are the best place to view this once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event, so alumni and friends of UW–Madison will travel to Mérida, Mexico, from Aug. 17-22 for an exclusive look at the red planet.

“Mars Among the Maya” is a custom travel package only available through the Wisconsin Alumni Association and the College of Letters and Science’s UW Space Place. This exclusive tour offers Badgers the chance to view Mars under the guidance of a trained astronomer. Jim Lattis, UW Space Place director and tour host, will offer his insights to travelers at all levels of astronomical knowledge.

“We’re excited to offer a tour that combines Mayan history, the beauty of Mexico and a spectacular event like the opposition of Mars,” says Paula Bonner president and CEO of WAA. “You don’t have to be an astronomy expert to participate – ‘Mars Among the Maya’ has something to offer everyone.”

In addition to stargazing, travelers will explore the rich Mayan culture of Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula. UW alumni and friends will stay at the historic Hacienda Temozón, an opulent 17th-century Mexican hacienda with deluxe amenities. Lattis will lead an excursion to the Chicxulub Crater, the site of an asteroid impact that wiped out 70 percent of all life on Earth 65 million years ago. Travelers will also visit the famous Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá, an ancient city that was once the seat of power in the Yucatán, and experience the “caracol,” an observatory constructed by the Maya to study the motions of the stars. Another archeological site, the city of Uxmal, will reveal its secrets to travelers – including architectural structures built to track planetary movements.

Space is limited, so travelers are encouraged to register early – for full details about “Mars Among the Maya” or to register, visit http://www.uwalumni.com/travel or contact WAA Travel Director Sheri Hicks at (608) 262-9521 or SheriHicks@uwalumni.com.